The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-27
Thursday.
REGIMENTAL REUNIONS.
THE l04TH,

REGIMENTAL REUNIONS.
THE l04rH.
At the Congregational church the reunisn
and banquet Of the lO4th Ill. Infantry WAS
we'll attended. The large Sunday school
room was full of tables, and the old veterans
and their families, TO the number of about
275, were served with bountiful repast BY
the ladies Of the Congregational society.
Some half or three quarters of an hour WAS
devoted TO the dinner, and then the speeches
There was no specified order
Of exercises, and no toasts, but Col Haps.
man presided, and called upon various men,
bers of the regiment TO give short imprompta
remarks. Col Hapeman opened the exer-
cises by few welcoming remarks and read
some letters, Among these letters was the
following interesting one from General
johnson:
LETTER OF REGRET.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Aug. 8, 1887.
Col. DOUGLAS HAPEMAN, Ottawa, ILL.,
My Dear Colonel: Nothing would give Ne
moro pleasure than to attend the reunion on
Aug. 10Th, and TO accept OF your kind hos.
pitxlity, but my engagem nts are such as 10
render it impossible for me TO do so. AZ
time wears away and our numbers are rapid
ly growing less, | feel more closely drawn
to those with whom | shared the dangers,
hardships and privatIons incident to the
great Rebellion. | remember we'll the gal
lantry and devotion of the heroes Of the
lO4th, and every man in the regiment was
true, genuine hero. Upon your regiment /
could always rely when true courage and
manly endurance were required.
wish that | could meet with you and
the brave boys Of the regiment and shake
hands with each one and tell them how
much | cherish a remembrance Of their he
roic service, which secured to us and to our
children the blessings of restored Union.
May Gods richest blessings rest upon
all of the survivors Of the regiment, and
as we are all rapidly approaching The
sunset shore Of our lives, may the doors Of
heaven be wide open to receive every one
whose name found place on the muster
rolls of the l04th Illinois Volunteers.
Very truly, your old commander,
X. W. JOHNSON.
He then called upon Joe Lewis to give The
old bugle calls. These were three in nun
Der, the reveille, the sick call and the As
sembly. The quartette, composed Of Messrs.
Hook, Buterfeld, Stewart and Degen, then
sang the words commonly put to these calls.
Those of the sick call were, "Dr. Dyer says,
DR.. Dyer says: Come get your quinins,
quinine, quinine, come get your quini.s,
quinino, quinine, q-u-i-n-i-n-e."
Lieut.. Calkius was then called upon saa
gave very interesting account of his war
experiences. The glee club then sang "Joha
Brown" and tho entire audience Joined In
the chorus.
Jacob Baine was the next speaker. He
began in a very light and comic style, but
very soon deepened his tone, and his speech
was one of the most eloquent and touching
of the speeches of the afternoon.
Miss Keller then gave recitation entitled,
the Drummer Boy" 1t was very pathst.
10 piece, and well spoken. 1t was partisa-
larly appropriate, and was roundly applaud.
ed.
Capt. Strawn, of Co. F, was then called
out. He gave some very interesting rsni.
niscences, and some laughable incidents Of
his army experience. His remarks were
we'll received. The next on the programme
was another song by the quartette, "hs
Vacant Chair" which was most excellsntIy
rendered.
Col. Hapeman then called on Comraas
Robinson, who responded in very apprs-
pirate and pleasing manner. In all these
speeches the thoughts and ideas were, in al-
most every particular, Of the most interest
ing, and it is only from lack Of space That
we do not Print them in full. The quartstts
then sang Marching Through Georgia"
the audience joining in the chorus.
Captain Wadleigh was then called sst,
and gave some very brief remarks.
Major Widmer was the next speaker called
up. His remarks were good-they always
are. He spoke of the remark of one Of The
soldiers when rabbit ran across the skir.
mish line, RUM he called, if l WAS .
rabbit, Tdrun, too?' He then went on to
say that the best bravery OF the war was
that Of the women at home.
Adjutsnt Stevens told several funny ste.
ries and was roundly applauded.
Then Mr.. John Wallace followed, adding
his personal recollections to those Of he
others.
The quartette then sang " Tenting on The
Old Camp Ground" after which DR.. Dyer,
like the rest, gave number of recolleetisls
and "reminiscences.
F, NJ. Sspp, of Ottawa, and Milton bash
nell, of Chicago, then made brief speeches,
as did also "Old Joe" Lewis, the buglsr.
Capt. John Wadleigh also made few more
remarks.
On motion Of Major ]. H. widmer, Col.
D. Hapsman was reelected president Of he
association.
The glee club apain sang q selection, TAX.